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'Should be banned': Fans rage over ugly Ashes 'embarrassment'

sam goodwin
Sports Editor

Cricket fans were left fuming midway through the opening day of the third Ashes Test when the dreadful English weather sparked farcical scenes.

Pesky rain saw the start of the Test at Headingley delayed by an hour, and there was minimal play before more rain forced an early lunch break.

But even when the rain stopped, it was so dark that umpires decided they couldn’t restart play, despite it being the middle of the day.

Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner, pictured here leaving the field when bad light stopped play.
Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner were at the crease when bad light stopped play. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Despite the floodlights being on, players were forced back to the pavilion as the frustrated crowd rained boos down onto the field.

It meant just 19 overs were bowled in the first five hours after play was supposed to start.

Fans took to social media to vent, believing the light was more than adequate and labelling the scenes a ‘joke’ and ‘embarrassment’.

The weather has been at its worst all throughout Australia’s tour of England.

The first and third days of the second Test at Lord’s were ruined, leading to the draw that saw Australia maintain their 1-0 lead.

It also left fans fuming during the preceding World Cup, with an unprecedented three games being abandoned without a ball being bowled.

On Thursday night, some fans went as far as to say England should be barred from hosting major cricket events.

Jofra Archer sparks horrendous Aussie collapse

David Warner likened Jofra Archer to recently-retired speed demon Dale Steyn after the express paceman snared six wickets, creating chaos as Australia lost 8-43 to be rolled for 179.

Warner and Marnus Labuschagne passed 50 but their teammates had no answers as Archer grabbed 6-45, celebrating his maiden five-wicket haul for England.

Archer backed up his remarkable Test debut in style, even timing the dismissal of Nathan Lyon to perfection so that stumps were pulled and England's openers didn't have any awkward overs to face on Thursday.

A watchful Warner overcame a tortured start to score 61, having been invited to bat first under overcast skies but also immense pressure sparked by early-series struggles and the absence of Steve Smith.

Labuschagne, who proved his match-saving 59 in the Lord's draw as a concussion substitute for Smith was no flash in the pan, weathered an eye-watering blow to the box before falling on 74 to a full toss from Ben Stokes.

The opening day at Headingley, pictured here, was marred by rain and bad light.
The opening day at Headingley was marred by rain and bad light. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Warner and Labuschagne shared a 111-run stand, frustrating Joe Root with the help of some sloppy fielding plus delays prompted by bad light and light rain at Headingley.

But, as is so often the case in England, one wicket quickly brought more in a collapse of 3-3 that spanned 15 balls.

Tim Paine, the only other batsman to reach double figures outside Warner and Labuschagne, steadied temporarily but Archer returned to the attack to fire out three tailenders in a collapse of 5-17 that ended the day and innings.

Archer first swung momentum with a pinpoint delivery that Warner, who helped Australia recover from 2-25, edged to keeper Jonny Bairstow.

Travis Head and Matthew Wade were bowled for ducks in consecutive overs, with the latter out when an Archer delivery struck the thigh pad then rolled onto the stumps.

with AAP